INTER COMMAND COMPETITION 2012-13 INVERDALE TROPHY PREVIEW

This years Inter Command final will be contested on Wed 27 Mar 13, KO 7pm, at Burnaby Road, the home of Navy Rugby. BAE Systems, sponsors of the Royal Navy Rugby Union will also sponsor this event.

The Inverdale Trophy is named after former Royal Navy Surgeon Captain John Inverdale. A rugby man himself, he was committed to both Devonport Services and United Services Portsmouth. Captain John Inverdale was made a Life Member of the Royal Navy Rugby Union in 1970.

The radio and television broadcaster John Inverdale, son of Captain John Inverdale who works for the BBC and ITV covering sporting events will again be present at this years final.

The reformat and late commencement of the competition has caused some challenges for the Command team managers. This is not only due to current operations but also the fact that the Senior XV Squad has been preparing for the forthcoming Inter Service Competition.

Towards the closing stages of the competition teams from the North of the boarder, Portsmouth and the Naval Air Command (NAC) struggled to put out teams due to player availability and commitments. Therefore, it was down to the ‘Men of Devon' to try and break the Royal Marine - NAC run of finals.

On the 13 Mar Plymouth Command travelled to CTCRM to take on the challenge of the Royal Marines trying to secure their place in the final. The game was going to plan with Plymouth leading at half time. However, the second half saw a different home side come on to the pitch as Plymouth were unable to break through the Royal's strong defence. With the Royal's becoming stronger in attack and maintaining their somewhat shatterproof defence the final score was 43 - 12 to the Royal Marines.

Therefore, yet again, this year's final will witness a battle between Naval Air Commands ‘Men of Air' and the ‘Might' of the Royal Marines. These two teams clashed in the early stages of the competition at RNAS Yeovilton, home of the Naval Air Command. This turf war resulted in the NAC winning 17-0.

Last year's final was also a closely fought battle with the final score 11-9 to the NAC, thus enabling them to lift the trophy for the fourth time in a six years period. With this prize-fight on the billboards again, who will win the right this year to receive The Inverdale Trophy and being crowned Inter Command Champions for this season?